This is a blog about traveling on a budget but still experiencing the cities and towns we visit.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

General Notes on Australia

While
in Australia, keep in mind that pedestrians do not always have the
right of way in crosswalks. Cars will not stop for you when you
crossing in a crosswalk unless it is striped. If
driving there, be aware that the driving lanes seem to be more narrow
than in the U.S. I felt like we had a few close calls with
semi-trucks while on the highway.

Lunch
is served from around 11:30am – 2pm in most towns and cities. As
you get into smaller towns, most restaurants and cafes close or stop
serving food after these hours. We ran into this more than once.
Thankfully, we had snacks in the car to sustain us. Also,
Tipping
is not necessary but is always appreciated. I only tipped when I felt
that the service was better than normal or if the server was very
attentive.

Alcohol
is quite expensive in Australia. I recommend bringing some with you.
Allotment information can be found
here.

Pharmacies
(chemists) can provide you with many over-the-counter options for
basic medical issues (colds, aches and pains, etc.), but these
remedies are not cheap. A bottle of cough suppressant can cost around
$20 AUD. Obviously, illnesses cannot always be predicted but taking a
basic first aid kit and OTC medicines with you can save you some
money.

Each
state has its own tourism website which has lots of helpful
information. Be aware that each Australian state is rather vast, so
sometimes the site will recommend towns or attractions that are
nowhere near your chosen location. Still, it was a great resource for
National Parks, accommodations, and attractions.
Here
is the website for New South Wales.

For
those of us with credit cards issued by American banks, beware of
Australia's rules regarding credit cards. Most credit cards have a
chip and a PIN making them more secure for the credit card companies,
the merchants, and the users. Currently, the United States does not
offer chip and PIN cards, rather we use a signature to validate our
use of the card. While visiting Australia in November 2014, I had
multiple merchants deny my credit card because I did not have a PIN.
It seemed as though this was a new rule change because I did not
encounter it everywhere. Eventually, I began asking if my credit card
with signature would be accepted before the purchasing process began.
U.S. banks are slated to offer credit cards with chips by October
2015, but most will be chip and signature, not chip and PIN. Check
with your bank prior to travel and be prepared to use cash. Click
here for a news article discussing this issue.